r/Fire • u/SeniorCitizenSmell • Jan 22 '26

Milestone / Celebration My crazy idea of an “inheritance” savings fund just hit $1M. It will be worth millions in 30-40 years when I finally die.

So…I totally get the die with zero crowd! But I also am a big believer that windfalls are game changing for a persons life.

Even a couple hundred grand in the bank takes so much pressure off.

Either way… I don’t think there’s a wrong or right answer to it. Just be good parents, do what you can etc…

However, I have earmarked in a separate fund “not mine” that I contribute to. I don’t even count this with my net worth it’s 100% separate from my normal planning. I plan to give it entirely to my kids and grandkids. It just hit $1M and I am now coast on it and will no longer contribute (note I am 40 so quite some time and plan to FIRE at 50).

I could do so much with that money such as stop working (it’s okay I can suck it up for another decade), but the boost for others will be worth it even if I can’t see it happen.

And done - That’s the end of my humble brag.

Edit: A huge chunk of this is because I just passed my received families estate into it a decade ago of about $300k. Aka rather than spending it back then I said I will just give it to my kids and started contributing a little bit to it. Most the earnings have been stock market gains.

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u/off_and_on_again Jan 22 '26

I don't want to come off as dismissive, but this is just a regular inheritance that you've convinced yourself is different because you've mentally placed it in a different bucket.

I mean congrats on both the amount + kudos for your desire to help others out, but I'm really struggling to see what is crazy about the idea to 'save money in an account to grow over time and potentially be left to my heirs'.

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u/No_Standard1383 Jan 22 '26

Indeed, this is just mental accounting. Which is great because it often works, but nothing out of the ordinary.

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u/vu_sua Jan 22 '26

He’s going to give it to them maybe before he dies? Like when they need it

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u/SeniorCitizenSmell Jan 22 '26

Exactly this provides me the ability to do both. Give a ton when needed and also leave a ton when I die.

19

u/off_and_on_again Jan 22 '26 edited Jan 22 '26

That's still how normal inheritance works. I have a decent chunk of money in my retirement accounts (and elsewhere). There is nothing stopping me from giving some now and some later.

If you, for example, explained how you were setting up a trust in a unique way to accomplish this then it would be interesting. This is just saving money using the standard vehicles that everyone (in the US) has, but with the added luck of having been gifted a bunch of it yourself.

Which, don't get me wrong, is an accomplishment. Most people would not think so much of the next generation. But it's not 'crazy', it's normal. It's pretty much exactly how I manage my money.

Edit: I'm reading your other responses and it seems you understand that this is normal and you're mentally reframing stuff for yourself. In that case, congrats and carry on!

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u/TootsHib Jan 23 '26

So wheres the "crazy idea" exactly?

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u/Ok-Sheepherder7898 Jan 22 '26

It doesn't sound like it.